In 1996, an Ethiopian Airlines 767 hijacking spiraled into the worst disaster of its kind. The plane crashed into the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands, killing 127 people and leaving a scar in aviation history.
The story of this ill-fated flight had an experienced pilot at its helm, Captain Leo Abate, who had faced hijackings twice before. Despite his willingness to cooperate, things quickly took a grim turn when hijackers claimed they had a bomb and demanded to be flown to Australia. Captain Abate attempted to reason with them, explaining the impossibility of making it that far with their fuel. However, his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Among the passengers were the U.S. Consul General for Bombay, Poncho Huddle, and his wife. Poncho recalled how chaotic and surreal the situation felt as one hijacker waved frantically while another moved stealthily. The “bomb,” which looked like a shoebox with wires, only added to the tension.
With the plane flying further south, the atmosphere grew eerily quiet. Passengers were edgy, cycling through emotions and newspapers without finding any calm. As fuel ran low, Captain Abate made one final attempt to redirect the hijackers to refuel, but they refused, dooming the flight.
When it became clear that the plane couldn’t continue, Captain Abate announced the dire news to the passengers: they would have to ditch in the ocean. Panic swept through the cabin. People prayed, cried, and tried to brace for the impact. Poncho tried to console his wife, but she remained stoically practical until the last moment.
Just before impact, Poncho gave one hijacker a hard look, hoping to confront him in the water. The crash was brutal. Initial relief turned into horror as the wreckage unfolded like a slow-motion car accident. Poncho thought he was dead until he found himself alive and talking to himself in the water, struggling with his injury and floating amid the wreckage. A miracle brought him and his wife together again amid the debris.
Captain Abate displayed extraordinary skill by bringing the aircraft close to a beach resort, saving many lives despite the devastating loss. Of the 176 people on board, 127 perished, including all three hijackers. The aftermath painted a harsh reality: while focusing on survivors gives solace, the tragedy lies in the lives lost.
Captain Abate’s actions earned him one of the highest awards for civil pilots, honoring his bravery and exceptional piloting skills in a harrowing scenario.